Latest: QPR 2 West Brom 2 – Austin the hero for Rangers yet again

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Charlie Austin scored twice, taking his tally for the season to 10, as QPR fought back from 2-0 down at Loftus Road.

Goals Joleon Lescott and Silvestre Varela put West Brom two up within 20 minutes but Austin responded by belting in a penalty and then, three minutes into the second half, pouncing from close range to haul his team level.

Rangers fell behind when Lescott headed home after Sebastien Pocognoli’s right-wing corner had been flicked on at the near post by Stephane Sessegnon.

Varela doubled Albion’s lead when he waltzed through the QPR defence and applied the finish after exchanging passes with Sessegnon, who has been a constant threat.

But Rangers were given a much needed boost when James Morrison was adjudged to have impeded Leroy Fer after keeper Ben Foster had spilled Joey Barton’s corner and Austin converted the resulting penalty.

And the striker struck again when Barton’s corner was headed against the bar by Richard Dunne and Bobby Zamora headed the loose ball towards Austin, who smashed into the roof of the net.

Albion caused Rangers problems on the right-hand side in the early stages.

In the second minute, Sessegnon pulled the ball back for Craig Gardner, whose shot was pushed out by keeper Rob Green.

There was another anxious moment for the home side when Sessegnon took on Yun Suk-Young – who later went off injured – and found Baggies forward Brown Ideye, who fired wastefully over.

Lescott made no mistake, however, nodding in his first goal since joining Albion in the summer.

Sessegnon was also involved in the second goal 10 minutes later and the visitors looked in complete control before Austin, back from suspension, netted for the fifth consecutive home game.

Albion remained dangerous and Rangers continued to struggle to contain Sessegnon, who had a powerful effort tipped over by Green five minutes before the break.

But the R’s were level soon after the restart – and Barton then appealed in vain for a penalty, claiming he had been tripped by Morrison in the box.

QPR (4-4-2): Green, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Yun (Hill 29), Vargas, Henry, Barton, Fer, Austin, Zamora.
Subs: McCarthy, Ferdinand, Phillips. Mutch, Kranjcar, Hoilett.

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